DUNEDIN TO AUCKLAND BY MOTOR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1670, 10 February 1913, Page 4

DUNEDIN TO AUCKLAND BY MOTOR.

♦ r— ROADS GOOD AND' BAD. . (By Tolfsrr»ph.—Botolol Oorresponflsnt.) Auckland, February 7.' A lengthy journey from Dunedm to Auckland by motor-car was completed on Wednesday by Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Passmoro and Mr. L.J; Passmorc, jun.; of Duuedin. Tho party left Duncdin a week ago, and motored without mishap to Lyttelton, whero tho car wa9 transhipped to Wellington.'No difficulties wero met with in the South Island, the roads, according to Mr. Passmore' alt \being in' excellent condition for motoring. After leaving Wellington the party motored to Woodville, travellingria loxton and tho Mana"■watu Gorge. /From Woodville they proceeded to Napier, ihe, road being well nigh perfect, and tho remarkably good time of. 3 houra 20 minutes, being registered for the journey between, thoso two town's. ... , ",'

"For some 25 miles out of Napier the •road was also good," said Mr. Passmore, relating his experiences to a reporter, "but from that point onwards they are 6imply beyond description, Tho road ■rises Very considerably in o. little over threo miles," and'then there is a steep decline. , Between these hills and Tarowcra wesaw two cars abandoned by their owners. In many places it is impossible for two cars to pass on the, road from' Napier to Taupo.. Wo accomplished the journey in a little over 5J hours. There 16, by tho way, urgent need for the Auckland -Automobile Association, to take steps 'to have supplies of oil and motor, Spirit placed on sale.at reasonable prices at Taupo .and Rotorua. Tho road from Taupo to Rotorua is an absolute disgrace to any civilised country, but doubtless Mr. Mcssey will alter that state'of affairs, for I understand that ho motored over the road a few weeks ago. / From Eotorua wo came cn.Ao Morcer, arriving there on Tuesday, and wo struck the first decent bit of road wo met with after leaving Taupo, a stretch of some 14 miles between Cambridge and Hamilton. From three; to four'miles tho other eido of Morcer tho road was beyond all description. It was flanked by a swamp on one side and a river on tho other, and the scours in. tho roadway were so large that it would be impossible for any car other than one of a, very high clearanco to get across this stretch. Whilst the party, was at Mercer, three cars,were towed in by horses. The state of the roads can ,'be judged from the fact that out of four cars which arrived at Rotorua between Saturday night and 9 a.m. on Monday threo had broken springs.' The party left Mercer on, Wednesday morning, and travelled over roads which would m considered'impassable for motors in-the South Island." ■■■~'■'.'. ."■ I The 45-h.p. car in which the trip was made arrived in Auckland apparently norio tho worse 1 for tho strenuous test it had been, subjected to. Tho only mishap which attended tho motorists was a punctured' tire at Foxton on Monday. Tho party mil leave by the Maheno for Australia, where they will indulgoin a three months' motoring tour of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. The car will then bo transhipped to tho Bluff, and will complete its journey overland to Dunedm.